we do not want to go off the fiscal cliff. that's why we quickly responded to another proposal to the president. but the president refused to have a discussion. >> there's other reports that say republicans are looking for a fallback position, if he can't get the capps on deductions for more tax revenues and so forth. and it's going to be tax rates that the republicans might just vote present. some might vote present. some might vote aye and deal with the rates next year is. that just pure press speculation or is there anything to it? >> look, those are all press stories that are out there. we're trying to solve a problem. because if that came to fruition, that does nothing to solve the problem. and we just have an unbelievable amount of growth in government where we have to control the spending. if we want to truly save medicare and social security, we've got to do something about it. that's what republicans have been proposing all along. we want to solve a problem once and for all. and that's why we haven't waited -- it's in